Muenster, St. Gertrude Parish

Initially the first attempts to organize a parish were made in 1907. On May 10, 1907, Fr. Peter Windschiegl celebrated the first mass in the district in Adam Bunz's log house on Section 22 3621. After the mass a meeting was held and it was decided to organize a new parish. The first trustees were Adam Bunz Sr., Henry Boehm and Frank Schuler. Fr. Peter again celebrated mass on the Bunz farm on June 28. At this meeting it was agreed to build the church on the northwest quarter of Section 10 36 21, property owned by Peter Joa. The church was to be 24 ft x 40 ft and St. Gertrude was chosen as its patron saint. She was a Seraphic Benedictine saint of the 13th century.

Leonard Joa and Michael Brunn were elected to join the three trustees and form the building committee. Prior Bruno Doerfler and Fr. Peter inspected the site, found it to be centrally located and acceptable. Records show that Fr. Boniface Puth visited the mission on Aug. 23, 1908, and Fr. Casimir Cismowski on May 29, 1909.

At a meeting in 1945, John Pape, Leo Blanch and Barney Loehr were elected as trustees. A canvas was done by them to raise money for the church project, and between it and a picnic held at St. Gertrude School (which was located next to the church) on July 7, 1946, following a mass celebrated by Fr. Augustine Nenzel, they were able to raise $4,837.65. Fr. Leonard Benning held mass at the school regularly during the summer of 1947.

St. Gertrude Parish community closed the church for Sunday services after 45 years. Fr. Xavier died June 11, 1992, at the age of 90. On the feast of Corpus Christi, June 21, 1992, a final eucharistic celebration was held to officially close the parish church by Abbot Peter Novecosky. It was a very special day for all parishioners, present and former, to come one last time to bid farewell to their church with a celebration of the mass, outdoor procession, barbecue and social.